US deploys soldiers in northern Iraq: report

Dozens of US troops and intelligence services have been sent into northern
Iraq from Jordan under a plan to overthrow President Saddam Hussein, the Lebanese
newspaper As-Safir reported today.

In a front-page story datelined London, the daily quoted "well informed
diplomatic sources"as saying Washington "has launched a security
and military operation in Iraq".

Central Intelligence Agency chief George Tenet had "personally visited
northern Iraq during his last tour of the region and had given orders to start
the security plan after US President George W Bush (recently) approved a decision
to ask the CIA to overthrow ... Saddam,"the source said.

The Lebanese daily, which maintains close relations with the Syrian leadership,
said forward bases for US troops had been set up in Jordan. ");document.write("

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"Jordanian King Abdullah has given orders to clear two military airports
in Jordan for the US forces. About 2,000 US troops have been deployed in Jordan
so far,"it said.

"Dozens of those US soldiers, along with CIA agents, have been sent into
Iraqi territory,'' it said.

The sources said the US had started a "flurry of contacts with various
forces among the Iraqi opposition, and there are great difficulties in forming
a coalition similar to the 'Northern Alliance' in Afghanistan".

"Intensive contacts are being held with both the Kurdish and Shi'ite opposition
in order to establish springboards for potential operations,"they said.

The sources added that Washington had first approached Saudi Arabia, which
"refused to let its territory be used for any military attack against Iraq''.

"It seems that discussions moved to other countries in order to reach
an agreement on the possibility of using their territory in case it is needed,"they said.

"The United States has drawn a plan for an emergency economic assistance
to Jordan in case its economic and trade relations with Iraq suffer a crisis,"they added.